ROXAS SEEKS ANSWERS FROM JOC-JOC, DA REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today dared former DA Usec. Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante and DA regional field directors invited in today's Senate blue ribbon committee hearing to tell all they know about the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

"Ngayon, makikita natin kung saan nagtutugma, at kung saan nag-iiba ang istorya ng mga regional directors at ni Joc-Joc. Nasa publiko na kung ano ang papaniwalaan nila (Now we will see where the stories of Joc-Joc and that of the regional directors jibe and where they differ. It's up to the public on what they will believe)," he said.

The Ilonggo senator, who left for the province for official business, sent a letter to Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon, containing a list of questions for Bolante and the DA regional directors, to be answered in writing within five days.

Among the questions that Roxas asked Bolante to explain include details on when he first met President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; whether he assisted in any of her political campaigns; and the limits of his authority as a DA undersecretary, and any document evincing this.

The regional directors, on the other hand, were asked, among others whether they received the fertilizer fund allocated for their respective regions; if they had requested for the fund; if they participated in implementation of the Gininutang Masaganang Ani program; and if they have copies of the list of farmer-beneficiaries for their respective regions.

Roxas said that so far, Bolante's testimony has been unconvincing, and seemed to be intent on clearing President Arroyo and other officials from any wrongdoing.

"Mahirap talagang paniwalaan ang testimonya ni Joc-Joc, halimbawa, na wala raw siyang kinalaman sa pagpatay kay Marlene Esperat, na hindi raw alam ni Pangulong Arroyo ang fertilizer fund, at gumagamit daw ng abono ang NFA ahit na ang papel lang nito ay bumili ng bigas at hindi ang magtanim at umani nito (It's really hard to believe Joc-Joc's testimony, such as him not having anything to do with Marlene Esperat's killing, that GMA knew nothing about the fertilizer fund, and that the NFA used fertilizer even though it doesn't plant or harvest rice)," he said.

"Kung may kapangyarihan nga si Joc-Joc, may mapapakita bang dokumento kung saan ipinamahagi itong kapangyarihan mula sa mas mataas na opisina? (If Joc-Joc does have authority, can he show any document where this power was delegated to him by a higher office?)" he added.